To: Regional Affiliate Presidents and Members

I have talked with some of you over the phone on the following issues. It is important at I update you and we proceed on issues related to the NEHA Annual Education Conference (AEC).
- First I am thrilled to announce we have a reorganized affiliate representing the Northern New England States! The New Hampshire/Vermont affiliate has reorganized and now includes the State of Maine. The New Name of the affiliate is: NORTHEN NEW ENGLAND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
The new executive board is looking forward to participating with the other regional affiliates and the national association.
The following persons make up the new executive board.
- Jeanne Galloway, REHS President, JGalloway@ccntr.org
- Stefan Russakow, RS, Vice President, russakows@ci.nashua.nh.us
- Phil Alexakos, Secretary, palexako@ci.manchester.nh.us
- Mike Tremblay RS, Treasure, tremblaym@ci.nashua.nh.us

If you get a chance, please send of a brief e-mail to the new board welcoming them aboard!
- The Annual Education Conference: As you know there has been the question “What do we want to do during the AEC when it comes to Rhode Island?” In addition how will the AEC impact the Yankee Conference? It was decided to attempt to maintain the tradition of the Regional Yankee Conference during the AEC. To attempt to hold a regional conference the some year the AEC comes to New England is to difficult. NEHA has advised their willingness to work with us to maintain our regional tradition.

Meetings, e-mails, and phone calls have been in the works with members of the Yankee Board, Nelson Fabian NEHA Executive Director and I on this issue. After discussing various options and concerns the following is what is proposed:

- During the AEC awards ceremony the Regional Affiliates can present the awards that are traditionally presented at the Yankee Conference. These award are the

Robert C. Perriello Memorial “Sanitarian of the Year Award” (Each state affiliate can nominate an individual representing their affiliate) Dr. Leon A. Bradley Award (Each state can nominate an individual to the Yankee Board for this award. Only one person is selected for the region) NEHA Certificate of Merit (Each state affiliate can nominate an individual representing their affiliate)

- To maintain the education tradition of the Yankee Conference each state affiliate has a one-hour block of time to allow for presenting a topic during the AEC that represents their affiliate state. All the state affiliate education sessions will be back to back in one-hour blocks. The will be titled “Yankee Conference Education Sessions” noting each states representation. The sessions will be open to all attendees of the AEC. It is suggested that the topic represent a unique environmental challenge or an innovative approach to an environmental health issue in your state. For example I am recommending that the Massachusetts Affiliate present on “Issuing tickets for Health Code Violations” This is a unique and innovative enforcement tool that can be used in our state. It should be educational to share our experiences on this enforcement tool.
- Will there be a separate Yankee Conference rate to attend?

No, persons attending the AEC can attend all events that they sign up for including the Yankee Conference events. The Yankee Conference is a conference with in a conference. The AEC is a significant fundraiser for NEHA. NEHA could not have a competing event during the conference. Attendees can sign up to attend the full 5 days or 1 day. Rates have been established for each option.

One of the major drawbacks of this approach is that we will not have a funding event that adds to the Yankee Conference Scholarship fund. This is something we have no answers to at this time. It was clear that trying to hold a Yankee Conference the same year the AEC is in New England was too difficult.

So….What I Need The Affiliate Presidents and Yankee Board to Do…. 1) Confirm that you are on board with the Awards event and Educational Sessions.

2) If on board provide the Names of your award nominations to the Yankee Board of Directors. I don’t have a due date for this. The Yankee Board is considering a possible meeting the week of April 11, 2005. I would suggest having nominations by that date. 3) Provide me with your education session topic and speaker information by March 29, 2005. This will allow time for NEHA to include the sessions in the final printing of education sessions that attendees can chose to attend.

A final note…To say it is challenging to do all we have to do in our professional and personal life is putting it mildly. I have been in the Environmental Health profession for over 25 years and I find that I have less time to do what I would like to do then ever before. Is it our profession? Is it our lives? Is it me? I don’t have the answers. What I do know is that it is important to continue to try to do what we believe in. To reach out to others in our profession and have them contribute and participate. Maybe in the next 25 years we will have all the answers.

Please call or E-mail me with any issues you would like to discuss. I will get back to you eventually! I promise!